Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Momentum is building for Long Beach girls’ lacrosse following defeats to defending state Class D champion Cold Spring Harbor and perennial Nassau Class B champion Garden City.
The Marines posted a signature win over Manhasset April 11, building a three-goal halftime lead and holding on for a 6-5 victory, and followed up with convincing decisions over North Shore and Seaford over the next five days.
“We’re starting to figure things out and get into a groove,” said coach Rachel Ray, whose guided Long Beach to three consecutive county final appearances including a pair of tough 9-8 defeats to Garden City. “We made some adjustments on defense and got back into our zone after tying a few different things,” she added. “Now I think the defense and goaltending is what’s going to carry us.”
Senior Delaney Chernoff dished out three assists against Manhasset and the Marines had five different goal scorers with junior Sienna Warren netting a pair and junior Skylar Kilfeather, sophomores Reilly Amorosa and Marianna Chimienti, and eighth-grader Shannon O’Shea collecting one apiece. O’Shea, last year’s leading JV scorer, had the winner.
“Sometimes there are low-scoring games when the top teams get together,” Ray said. “The first quarter was pretty intense. We led by three at the half. They came back on us but we were able to hold them off.”
Long Beach led after every quarter and got a strong performance in the cage from senior Hofstra-bound goaltender Saoirse Feerick, who made 10 stops. “She’s a senior who didn’t get to play too much prior to this year, but she’s so good,” Ray said of Feerick. “She’s been playing lights out and her confidence keeps growing. She’s also been pushing our transition game with strong outlets. Against Manhasset she made a bunch of saves on the doorstep to help us win.”
The defense, anchored by seniors Franky DeCicco, Taryn Morris, Tara Hagen and sophomore Anala Teemer, has been given a lift by the move of freshman Maya Kallelis from the midfield. “We’ve been giving up fewer high-danger chances since the Cold Spring Harbor game,” Ray explained. “We’re utilizing our depth back there and still rolling Anala and Maya in the midfield at times.”
Chernoff and O’Shea are leading the midfield along with Amorosa and junior Alex Backlin. Chernoff, headed to the University of Denver, earned All-County honors last season and is well on her way to more honors with 16 goals and 13 assists during Long Beach’s 8-2 start.
“It’s Delaney’s turn to lead our program and she’s impressive to watch,” Ray said. “She can score and feed and can run end-to-end all game.”
Kilfeather, an attack committed to Florida State, is the playmaker behind the cage and has racked up 12 goals and 16 assists so far. She and Chernoff are both lefty shooters. Warren and Chimienti also have a dozen goals apiece.
“The schedule is relentless,” Ray said “We’ve played some big dogs and have a bunch of big dogs left.”
The Marines are home April 29 to face defending Nassau Class C champion Wantagh at 5 p.m.
